Essential Oils as a Source of Ecofriendly Insecticides for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and Their Potential Non-Target Effects

Molecules. 2022 Sep 21;27(19):6215. doi: 10.3390/molecules27196215.

Abstract

The spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is one of the main invasive pests of small fruits in the world. Thus, 19 essential oils (EOs) were selected to analyze the effects through toxicity and repellency on oviposition and D. suzukii adults. In addition, their lethal and sublethal effects on the pupal endoparasitoid Trichopria anastrephae were evaluated. The EOs of C. flexuosus and Mentha spp. had the highest toxicity observed in the topical application bioassay for D. suzukii. In contrast, the EOs of C. verum, C. citratus QT citratus, and C. winterianus showed the highest toxicity in the ingestion bioassay for D. suzukii. The dry residues of C. verum and C. citratus QT citratus reduced the oviposition of D. suzukii. In the repellency bioassays, the 19 EOs analyzed repelled ≅ 90% of the D. suzukii females. All EOs evaluated using the LC90 values of the products provided mortality of less than 20% of T. anastrephae adults and did not cause a reduction in the parasitism of surviving T. anastrephae females. We conclude that the EOs evaluated have the potential to be used in the management of D. suzukii. They can also serve as selective active ingredients for the formulation and synthesis of new biopesticides.

Keywords: Trichopria anastrephae; biopesticides; spotted wing drosophila; sustainable pest management.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Control Agents
  • Drosophila
  • Female
  • Fruit
  • Hymenoptera*
  • Insect Control
  • Insecticides* / pharmacology
  • Oils, Volatile* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Biological Control Agents
  • Insecticides
  • Oils, Volatile

Grants and funding

The authors thank The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for financial support and scholarships conceived—Financing Code 152810/2022-6.